For companies trying to understand African consumers, the data has always been a problem of both access and trust. Surveys are expensive to field, completion rates can be low, and verifying that a respondent is who and where they claim to be is a persistent challenge. A new startup from Kampala is building a platform on the premise that the answer is already in people's hands.
Core Intelligence, founded in 2026, operates a consumer research platform that distributes surveys directly to a mobile panel of over 50,000 verified respondents across 21 African markets [Tunga Tech, January 2024]. The company's reported wedge is a combination of broad reach, a mobile-first interface designed for low-bandwidth environments, and a critical behavioral hook: instant airtime rewards upon survey completion [Tunga Tech, January 2024]. For a continent where mobile money and airtime are a primary currency, the incentive is both immediate and tangible.
The mobile-first data wedge
The platform's architecture is built around the realities of its target users. A dedicated mobile app, available in Uganda's App Store and developed by Paul Kirungi, facilitates participation [Apple App Store, March 2026]. The company claims a 95% survey-completion rate, a figure that would be exceptional in most global markets and is attributed to the instant reward system [Tunga Tech, January 2024]. But beyond recruitment, Core Intelligence is layering on data-quality controls that speak directly to the skepticism of enterprise buyers. The platform incorporates speed detection to flag rushed responses, location verification, and duplicate-prevention logic, aiming to deliver what its marketing calls "real people" and "instant answers" [Tunga Tech, January 2024] [LinkedIn].
Building a two-sided business
Core Intelligence is pursuing a dual-product strategy. Its core offering is the survey platform for consumer and market research. Alongside this, the company markets a media intelligence service, monitoring radio, television, print, and social media across the continent [Company website]. This service is offered in tiered plans priced at $800, $1,500, and $3,000 per month, suggesting an early move upmarket from pure survey execution to broader strategic intelligence [Company website].
The potential customer base is illustrated by the companies named in a vendor case study, which includes African tech giants like Jumia, Flutterwave, and Paystack [Tunga Tech, January 2024]. It is important to note that the case study does not explicitly confirm these are paying customers, but it clearly positions Core Intelligence's platform as a tool for such enterprises. The integration with Africa's Talking for reward disbursement points to a partnership-based approach to building out the operational stack [Tunga Tech, January 2024].
| Product Surface | Key Features | Target Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Research Platform | Survey builder, demographic targeting, real-time analytics, geographic heatmaps, fraud detection, low-bandwidth mobile access, instant airtime rewards. | Brand tracking, campaign measurement, product concept testing. [Tunga Tech, January 2024] |
| Media Intelligence Service | Monitoring of radio, TV, print, and social media. Tiered monthly pricing. | Competitor intelligence, brand sentiment analysis, market trend tracking. [Company website] |
The risks in a fragmented landscape
The ambition is clear, but the path is lined with execution risks familiar to any platform building a two-sided network. The model depends on maintaining and growing a high-quality, engaged respondent panel, which requires consistent survey volume and timely rewards. Any lapse in payment or survey quality could quickly erode trust. Furthermore, while the 21-market reach is a selling point, operating consistently across diverse regulatory and telecommunications environments adds significant complexity.
Competition is another open question. The sources reviewed name no direct competitors, but the space for consumer insights in Africa is not empty. Large multinational research firms, local agencies, and a growing number of tech-enabled startups are all vying for the same enterprise budgets. Core Intelligence's differentiators,its verified mobile panel and integrated reward system,are potent, but they must be defended and continuously improved.
- Panel scale and quality. The claimed 50,000+ respondents is a strong start, but panel freshness, demographic balance, and retention over time will be critical for sustained enterprise sales [Tunga Tech, January 2024].
- Operational complexity. Managing instant rewards and fraud detection across 21 countries with varying mobile money ecosystems and regulations is a non-trivial operational burden.
- Market education. The company must convince global and regional brands that its mobile-first, verified data is superior to traditional, often more expensive, research methods.
For the marketing teams at companies like Jumia or SafeBoda, the standard of care for consumer insights has often been a patchwork. It might involve commissioning expensive studies from international firms with limited local nuance, or relying on slower, less scalable methods. Core Intelligence is betting that a directly-accessed, mobile-verified African consumer, rewarded in real-time with the continent's digital currency of choice, can provide a faster, cheaper, and more reliable signal. The patient population, in this case, is every business trying to make a decision about what African consumers want next. The legacy diagnosis has been one of data scarcity and uncertainty. The proposed treatment is a direct line to the source.
Sources
- [Tunga Tech, January 2024] Core Intelligence, Research case study | https://www.tunga.tech/work/core-intelligence/
- [LinkedIn] Core Intelligence Africa company page | https://www.linkedin.com/company/coreintelligenceafrica
- [Company website] Core Intelligence | https://www.coreintelligence.africa/
- [Apple App Store, March 2026] Core Intelligence app listing | https://apps.apple.com/ug/app/core-intelligence/id6760175985